Thales participates in a press conference to encourage the Québec business community to take advantage of big data

A press conference took place in Montreal on February 10, to unveil The Profile of the Big Data Industry in Québec, organized by Montréal international and Québec international.
Richard Grenier, Director of Thales Research and Technology in Québec was one of the guests speakers to present this promising niche industry, which is expected to become a major source of growth and innovation, enables businesses to process greater volumes of data using technology tools tailored to their needs.

Guest speakers have highlighted the potential of local businesses, universities and research institutes—a potential that can position Québec and Montréal among the world leaders in this field:
 

  • A vibrant ICT industry

-7,400 companies
-130,100 jobs 
 

  • Cutting-edge big data expertise

-At least 2,100 big data specialists (88% concentrated in Greater Montréal)
-Over 1,000 of the best scientists in the world
-A pool of 105,000 professionals specializing in fields related to big data
-More than 16,000 university students enrolled in programs related to big data 
 

  • A very active community of scientists and professionals

Research organizations involved in big data
Incubators and developer communities
ICT business groups and associations
Big industry players and SMEs already established in Québec that provide significant data hosting capacity
 

  • Operating costs 25% lower than in the United States

-Power rates and a tax burden that are among the lowest in North America

-Highly competitive incentives (e.g., R&D tax credit, TCEB)
 

 
Specific recommendations for Québec
While highlighting Québec’s research, innovation and high-tech expertise, the study also makes four recommendations to boost the province’s big data industry:
1. Develop big data strategies for Québec and Canada
2. Encourage Québec organizations and businesses to incorporate big data into their business processes
3. Develop specialized big data training programs that reflect business needs
4. Consolidate computing centres in Québec
 
(*)Big data is a term that describes the entire data exploitation process from data collection and hosting to processing, analysis and value extraction.
 
 
A Profile of the Big Data Industry in Québec was prepared by Montréal International, in cooperation with Québec International and in partnership with the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal; Canada Economic Development; Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada; the Institute for Data Valorisation (IVADO); Québec’s Ministry of the Economy, Science and Innovation; and the City of Montréal.
Click here to read the full study: www.montrealinternational.com/en/publications/big-data-profile-in-quebec
 
 

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